At 6:01 a.m. a thrust fault broke
the surface in the Sylmar / San Fernano area of Southern California, in a 6.6 magnitude quake that took 65 lives, injured
more than 2,000, & millions of dollars in property damages.

Damages to two hospitals in or near downtown San Fernando were the most dramatic
in terms of major structure damages. Some freeway overpasses collapsed as well. At Olive View Hospital in Sylmar,
four 5-story wings pulled away from the main building and three stair towers toppled. Forty-nine people died when the
Veteran's Administration Hospital collapsed.

600,000 people were without power, and evacuations were ordered
when officials noted severe damages to Pacoima Dam and Lower Van Norman Dam. Residential structures throughout the area
suffered lost or severely damaged chimneys. Many landslides and rockfalls blocked roads. A particularly damaging
landslide near the Upper Lake area of the Van Norman Lakes severely damaged railroads and pipelines.

Reports
of general damage were widespread, and included Alhambra, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale and more. The quake was felt
throughout the Southern Californai area, and in parts of Arizona and Nevada.